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The database for the isopach map of the Brightseat Formation and structure contour map of the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, in Maryland and Virginia

Metadata Updated: October 29, 2025

The goal of the Atlantic Subsurface Stratigraphic Initiative (ASSI) is to create isopach and structural contour maps for all Coastal Plain formations within the Salisbury Embayment of Maryland and Virginia. Detailed information regarding thicknesses and extent of formations across state boundaries can then be utilized for more accurate documentation of the subaerial extent of aquifers across states. In support of this goal, lower Paleogene sediment elevation and thickness information from approximately 600+ data points from wells, cores, outcrops, and geologic maps were obtained from published and unpublished resources. Analyses started with production of a structure contour map of the unconformable contact of the Danian Brightseat Formation with underlying Cretaceous sediments, which represents the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary in the Embayment. In addition, an isopach map of the Brightseat was produced using the Natural Neighbors interpolator in ArcGIS, creating a raster grid file that was symbolized every five feet. Results indicate a central depocenter with a thickness of 95 feet within Maryland with smaller thicknesses of the Brightseat surrounding. Although Danian sediments in southeastern Virginia were removed by the Chesapeake Bay impact event, up to 30 ft of possible Brightseat Formation has been identified from core and well data in southernmost Virginia.

Access & Use Information

Public: This dataset is intended for public access and use. License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

Downloads & Resources

Dates

Metadata Created Date September 13, 2025
Metadata Updated Date October 29, 2025

Metadata Source

Harvested from DOI USGS DCAT-US

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Created Date September 13, 2025
Metadata Updated Date October 29, 2025
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Maintainer
Identifier http://datainventory.doi.gov/id/dataset/usgs-6310a254d34e36012efa0e4f
Data Last Modified 2022-01-13T00:00:00Z
Category geospatial
Public Access Level public
Bureau Code 010:12
Metadata Context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
Metadata Catalog ID https://ddi.doi.gov/usgs-data.json
Schema Version https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
Catalog Describedby https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
Harvest Object Id 39e695d7-75a7-4b24-baef-546acd982b6e
Harvest Source Id 2b80d118-ab3a-48ba-bd93-996bbacefac2
Harvest Source Title DOI USGS DCAT-US
Metadata Type geospatial
Source Datajson Identifier True
Source Hash fbe97b027dbf2fa4f92f711da50b5cd91fa9983691c14788b8d4dc964a97cc76
Source Schema Version 1.1

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